Willie Smith has earned swing-tackle duties. A 2012 undrafted free agent, Harris was thrust into blindside duties as a rookie after Jared Gaither fell apart, but was limited to 194 snaps a season ago. He has 12 games of starting experience, which should earn him a second chance soon enough. Sat, Aug 30, 2014 03:54:00 PM

Harris started each of the last three games, one at right tackle and two at left tackle. After giving up ten sacks as a rookie, Harris only gave up one sack in 2013. The Bolts signed OT Mike Remmers off Tampa Bay's practice squad to take Harris' roster spot. San Diego has precious little depth up front. Wed, Oct 9, 2013 06:55:00 PM

The Chargers have moved second-year OT Mike Harris to backup right tackle after he struggled mightily at left tackle as a rookie.

Harris "occasionally" practiced on the left side at OTAs, but primarily worked as RT D.J. Fluker's backup. Harris made nine starts as a 2012 UDFA, allowing ten sacks and grading out 80th-of-80 in Pro Football Focus' offensive tackle ratings. Only Jonathan Martin (47) and Jermon Bushrod (46) allowed more than Harris' 44 QB hurries -- and Martin and Bushrod both started all 16 games. Mon, Jul 1, 2013 04:27:00 PM

Willie Smith has earned swing-tackle duties. A 2012 undrafted free agent, Harris was thrust into blindside duties as a rookie after Jared Gaither fell apart, but was limited to 194 snaps a season ago. He has 12 games of starting experience, which should earn him a second chance soon enough.

Harris started each of the last three games, one at right tackle and two at left tackle. After giving up ten sacks as a rookie, Harris only gave up one sack in 2013. The Bolts signed OT Mike Remmers off Tampa Bay's practice squad to take Harris' roster spot. San Diego has precious little depth up front.

The Chargers have moved second-year OT Mike Harris to backup right tackle after he struggled mightily at left tackle as a rookie.

Harris "occasionally" practiced on the left side at OTAs, but primarily worked as RT D.J. Fluker's backup. Harris made nine starts as a 2012 UDFA, allowing ten sacks and grading out 80th-of-80 in Pro Football Focus' offensive tackle ratings. Only Jonathan Martin (47) and Jermon Bushrod (46) allowed more than Harris' 44 QB hurries -- and Martin and Bushrod both started all 16 games.

Kevin Haslam will start at left tackle and Reggie Wells will start at right tackle. It's a nightmare scenario for Philip Rivers and the entire Chargers' offense. Expect Antonio Gates to be asked to stay in and block plenty. The rest of the Chargers' inactives: WR Eddie Royal, LB Donald Butler, DL Antonio Garay and TE Ladarius Green.

The Chargers also lost LG Tyronne Green (hamstring) and RT Jeromey Clary (left knee) against the Bengals, and none of the three are expected to play in Week 14 against the Steelers. San Diego is down to one healthy offensive tackle on its roster -- Kevin Haslam -- and may have to start a street free agent versus Pittsburgh. Rex Hadnot will take Green's place at left guard.

Chargers rookie Mike Harris is expected to start at left tackle in place of Jared Gaither (back, questionable) on Sunday against the Bucs.

Gaither appeared to have suffered a setback with his chronic back early in the practice week. He was limited on Wednesday but didn't participate in Thursday or Friday's sessions. Harris has started four games on Philip Rivers' blind side this season, and he has struggled badly in pass protection. The Chargers generally move the ball much better with Gaither in the lineup, too. Gaither will give it a go in warm-ups, so we'll know more toward the 1:00PM ET game time.

Undrafted rookie Mike Harris will start at left tackle for the Chargers early in the season.

Veteran Jared Gaither is out indefinitely with ongoing back trouble. Harris is a natural right tackle, stretched on Philip Rivers' blindside. His preseason work has been generously labeled as mixed. Rivers' early-season fantasy woes in 2011 were due in large part to leaky pass protection. It's a major concern again this year.

Camp just started, but Harris is already working with the first-team offense in Jared Gaither's (back) absence. Harris measured 6-foot-5, 309 and ran a 5.46 forty at UCLA's March Pro Day. He may be San Diego's 2012 swing tackle.

Depth Charts

The lower back injury that ended Jerick McKinnon's rookie year in early December required surgery.

He is "a couple weeks" from completing his rehab. McKinnon says he'll be ready to participate fully when the Vikings' offseason workout program begins on April 20. After a promising rookie season, McKinnon's 2015 role is unclear. He could operate as a change-of-pace back if Adrian Peterson returns. If the Vikings decide they can't keep Peterson at his $15.4 million cap number, McKinnon would become the front-runner for Minnesota's starting job.